News from the New York State and Local Retirement System

Reporting a Member’s or Retiree’s Death to NYSLRS

When a NYSLRS member dies, whether before or after retirement, it’s important that survivors report a member’s or retiree’s death to NYSLRS as soon as possible.

But long before that happens, you should talk to your loved ones and provide them with the information they’ll need when the time comes. Let them know your wishes, where to find important papers and what steps they need to take. And if your documents are organized and accessible, it will make things that much easier.

Survivors can report a death by email, phone or mail. They will need to send us an original certified copy of the member’s death certificate regardless of how they notify us.

How Survivors Can Report a Death

To report a death by phone, survivors can call toll-free at 1-866-805-0990 (518-474-7736 in the Albany, New York area). Once they reach the call menu, they should press “2” to report the death and then press “1.” Their call will be transferred to a customer service representative, who will ask for:

The deceased member’s retirement, registration or Social Security number.

The date of death.

Please note: Our customer service representatives cannot release the identities of a member’s or retiree’s beneficiaries over the phone.

Survivors can also use our secure email form to report a member’s death. They should enter:

The deceased member’s NYSLRS information into the required fields. (If they don’t know the retirement or registration number, we will accept a Social Security number.)

The deceased member’s date of death in the Comment field of the form.

Their own address and daytime phone number in the Comment section in case we need to reach them for more information.

What Happens Next

Once we receive the death certificate, we will send beneficiaries or their certified representatives (guardians, powers of attorney, executors) information about death benefits and, if applicable, information about continuing monthly retirement benefits. We will also send them forms to complete. Beneficiaries should be aware that it could take three months from the date we are notified of the death before any death benefit is paid or any monthly benefit payment begins.

If a member is retired when he or she dies, we will stop payment of any outgoing pension benefits. Survivors should be aware that any uncashed pension checks in a deceased retiree’s name must be returned to us. We will automatically reclaim any direct deposit payments that went out after a member’s death.

Taxes on death benefits vary depending on the specific type of benefit. You can find details on our About Death Benefits page.

If you would like account-specific information, please email our customer service representatives using our secure email form. One of our representatives will review your account and address your questions. Filling out the secure form allows us to safely contact you about your personal account information. Please allow five to seven business days for a response.

We are sorry for your loss. If you haven’t already done so, please call our customer service representatives (1-866-805-0990) to let them know that your brother has died. You can provide the agent with his daughters’ mailing addresses.

After we receive a certified death certificate, we contact and provide forms to any named beneficiaries or to the executor of the estate.

We are sorry for your loss. If you haven’t done so already, please call our customer service representatives (1-866-805-0990) to let them know that your mom has died. They will be able to walk you through the next steps.

There are a few possible death benefits that may be available to NYSLRS retirees, depending on her retirement plan, her employer and the pension payment option she chose at retirement. Once we receive a certified death certificate, we contact any named beneficiaries or the executor of the estate to let them know what death benefits are payable.

My mom passed away on July 3rd, 2018. Every step of the retirement death benefit process has taken longer than the posted timeline. I sent off the signed and notarized letter claiming my benefits (the last step before receiving the check) last week and was told today that it would take ANOTHER 4 weeks to process the check. That will make it 18 weeks since my Mom passed. The lady that I spoke with in customer service just told me that the usual timelines don’t apply because they are backed up. Then why not let us know that? But 18 weeks for a death benefit? That’s outrageous. I need help. I sent a fax to the survivor services unit as advised by customer services. What now?

Wow….I am going threw the same thing..my husband died September 17 2018 and I have no idea how to pay for all the bills without a check, I sent out all the paperwork on September 20th and 18 weeks is a very long time

My loved one died on August 8, 2018. I notified them on August 15th. They were able to stop his retirement benefits in Sept. I was told it would take about 3 weeks to process the forms that I would need to complete, get notorized & return; then another couple weeks until benefits would start. It’s December 10th (about 16 weeks later) and I have not received the forms to complete or other information about getting beneficiary monthly payments. I’ve called about 6 times and customer service says that they have everything they need, but to call back in 2 to 3 weeks, if I do not receive the forms yet.

I followed all of the procedures outlined here in April 2019- I called and notified of my mothers passing, I sent a the death certificate. I have called and contacted multiple times for assistance with the process. I was told it was taking a long time due to the web site update and back log due to the outage of the web site. Last I was told it would be a 6 month process. I was mailed back the death certificate and called to see if that would mean the process has started and I was told yes. I called again today due to not receiving any paperwork and I was just informed that because my Mother received her direct deposit for the month she passed the survivor services department is holding up the paperwork process for me to start receiving any benefits as beneficiary. I was told that I need to pay back the payment from April before anything else will be processed. I explained that I had already spoke to someone on July 12th- due to a check for the month of June being mailed to my mother and she should not be getting any checks. She told me that she would let survivor services know that my mother passed on April 18th so they would need to send me a pro rated bill of what I need to pay back for April 19- end of the month.
The person today said she would give survivor services my name, phone number and address again. The only way I can contact them myself is to mail or fax ~ so if I have question or need assistance from them I have to wait until they contact me??? I do not know who to make the payment to, how much the payment is for – and due to all of this I am not receiving my benefits as my mothers beneficiary. This is not an effective system. I then tried to request information on closing this account, benefit materials and such and was told- again I need to be the beneficiary to get these answers/ materials- BUT no one is even started the process- I have all the original documentation with my info clearly on it- How is this possible?? I don’t know what to do????

We’re sorry for your loss and for the delay. We were able to confirm that survivor services staff will send a bill for the prorated amount due. Once you receive the bill, please send payment made out to NYSLRS. The address is NYSLRS, 110 State Street, Albany, NY, 12244.

Thank you for your response. Unfortunately, I have yet to receive any bill or have any information from survivor services sent to me. I called again and was told there is nothing that can be done until the reclaimed money from April is received. She said she would send a ticket into survivor services and I am to continue to wait…..

I also sent the paper check along with a 2 page letter to survivor services certified mail along with a return receipt notification. I received the card back with the stamp of rec’d dated 8/12/19.

I really do not what else to do. I can not believe all of this run around.

I ready don’t know why everything takes so long I also think they should let people know who are the beneficent are it should take any more that 60 days after all we got all this more stuff its nerve wrecking but went it’s time to vote on something boy can they move and make phone calls it’s a shame how nys treat their people and we’re the highest paid tax it’s just sad

We’re sorry for your loss. However, NYSLRS does not administer retirement benefits for New York City employees. Please contact the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS). You can call them or walk in. For more information go to their website at http://www.nycers.org/contact.

My mother passed away September 2018. She is still receiving her monthly direct deposit benefits. I’ve reported her death twice and have sent death certificate twice.
Am I a beneficiary of this money or has my moms status not been updated?

I sent back the required forms for my mother back in April and have been getting the run around ever since. Originally told 60 days, then 6 months, and now, over 6 months, and have heard nothing. Next step may need to get lawyer involved to find out what is going on. Can anyone help?????

This entire process is to delay payment until you can’t anymore. Hold on to beneficiaries due funds as long as you can. I thought I was alone in this but seeing the other responses here, I know this isn’t the case. “Your message is important to us,” ……….not as important as the funds that would help some of the grieving families. NYS is a joke glad I moved. Oct. 10th called customer service and was told the Death Certificate was received on Oct. 5 and they will contact me after they calculate benefits. If I don’t get letter in 4-6 weeks contact them. I contacted customer service Nov. 26 was told, the form was received on Oct 10, and they will request information is sent out. So, the information wasn’t sent on the Oct 5, or after my follow up call Oct.10th. If I had not called Nov. 26 the forms would have never been sent apparently. Its sad, that you operate this way with the consistency that you do.

You can report a member’s or retiree’s death by phone. Call 1-866-805-0990, press ‘3,’ and then ‘1.’

You will be asked for the member’s retirement or registration number (or Social Security number if you don’t have either account number) and the date of death. You may also be asked for the address and phone numbers of immediate family members who may be beneficiaries.

I’ve been waiting all day for a call back. I called at 9 AM and still haven’t received a call back. I called several times over the last week and gave up being on hold. I will call again; however, I can’t sit on hold for hours.

My father died in july 2019 contacted nyslrs right away they told me it would take up to 6 months. I recieved all papers in dec had them filled out and notarized thought that was it.. but then I get papers saying I need to prove identity. (Didnt I do that when I had the papers notarized?) So I sent back proof of identity and still have not received check. I had my grandmother call today because she is also a beneficiary and she said the lady told her it would take another 6-8 months since they received the proof of identity WHAT?. Is this even possible or is my grandmother mistaken what the lady said. That would mean it takes more then a year to get a beneficiary payout?. The website says 11-14 weeks

It takes much longer than 3 months. My mom passed away April 2019, and I’m still waiting. I’ve called and emailed. My paperwork was sent to them in August. Every time I call I’m told to continue to be patient and that they have sent the message to the supervisors and it is on high priority. Apparently high priority means that I’m still waiting 10 months later.

Hello, My grandfather died last month due to COVID-19. He was retired few years back (Not sure exact date). I will follow the instructions here to help my grandmother to get her benefit. My late grandfather receive a retirement. Am I wondering is she going to get the same benefit? Thank you in advance for your answer.

Whether your grandmother receives a continuing benefit, and the amount of that benefit, depends on the pension option your grandfather chose at retirement. Your grandfather should have received a Retiree Annual Statement in February, which provides details about his benefits.

In the event of a retiree’s death, once NYSLRS receives an original, certified death certificate, NYSLRS will contact any beneficiaries in writing to provide information and necessary forms.